Skid chain applying tool



A. SPOCK SKID CHAIN APPLYING TOOL v April 21 1942.

Filed May 1, 1941 LAY? I-Illlllnl find/ ew Spo war/M4 3 Patented Apr. 21, 1942 umrso STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,280,316 SKID CHAIN APPLYING TOOL Andrew Spock, Weathcrly, Pa. Application May 1, 1941, Serial No. 391,386

1 Claim My invention relates to skid chain applying tools and is a continuation in part of my pend- One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide a tool of the foregoing described character which is so constructed and arranged as to facilitate the application of skid chains to the tires of motor vehicle wheels or the like and in a manner to eliminate the necessity of jacking or v A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the above described character equipped with means whereby the toolmay be convenientl held in the hand of the operator during application of the chain to the tire and in a manner to preclude contact of the operator's hand or clothing with the tire and thus prevent soiling of the hands or clothing by the tire.

.An important object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described-which is simple in construction, durable in use, eficient in operation and economical in manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, appended claim and annexed drawing.

Referring to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a sid elevation of my invention and illustrating a skid chain attached thereto and in position for application about the tire of a vehicle wheel. v

Figure 2 is an end elevation of my invention.

Figures 3 and 4 are side elevations respectively of my invention and depicting steps in the application of the chain to the tire.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the tool.

In practising my invention, as illustrated in the drawing, I provide a tire chain applying tool comprising a substantially U-shaped member 5 formed with a pair of side rods 6 having oppositely disposed ends structurally integrally connected together by. an arciform cross-bar or zygon I. The other or free ends structurally integrally connected to the central portions 8 of a pair of hangers 9, each of said of the side rods 6 areing application serial No. 380,364, filed February hangers 9 being formed with a pair of oppositely or forwardly and rearwardly disposed hooks l0 and II respectively.

' The hooks ID are adapted to receive thereon chain links I! carried on coincident ends of a skid chain 13 whilethe hooks H are adapted to receive oppositely disposed links M, the latter being positioned an appreciable distance from the links l2 and interjacent the ends of the chain. The opposite ends of the chain l3 are provided withthe usual fastening elements l5 coacting with the links I2 to secure the lateral runs I6 of the chain about the tire l1, said chain l3 being provided with a plurality of transverse runs l8 for overlying the tread of the tire. Inasmuch as:

the chain I3 is of .an ordinary construction and forms no part of the presentinvention per se a more detailed description of the same is not believed warranted.

The free end of one of the rods 6 axially extends an appreciable distance beyond the respective hanger 9 and constitutes a handle IS, the latter being formed with a loop 20 at its free end to Y provide a hand grip as clearly illustrated in Figure 5 of th drawing. The loop 20 is also employed as a support whereby the tool may be suspended from a nail or the like when not in use,

In operation the skid chain I3 is spread flatwise on the roadway and the tire l6 disposed over one end thereof by a reverse operation of the motor vehicle. When the chain is thus disposed, the links H, m the distal ends of the lateral runs, are disposed over the hooks l0 and the links I4 over. the hooks ll thereby providing an appreciable'portion of the chain [3 with a sag 2| between the links 12 and It as clearly illustrated in Figure 1. When the chain is thus connected to the tool, the latter is moved' over and about the tire to train the sag 2| and the adjacent portions of the chain about the tread as clearly illustrated in full lines in Figure 3. The hand grip or loop 20 of the tool is then i moved forwardly (in the direction indicated by the arrow) to the dotted line position to effect sufiiclent tilting of the hangers 9 to release t e links M from the hooks ll. When the links ll are released from the hooks H, the tool is moved a further distance about the tire to eliminate I have provided a simple and eflicient form oi skid chain applying tool whereby a chain may be conveniently and expeditiously applied to a tire and without the necessity oi raising or lacking the tire with respect to the roadway.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain the invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all the features of the invention be used oonjointly since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and sub-combinations.

It is obvious that the invention is not confined to the herein described use therefor as it may i be utilized for. any purpose to which it is adaptable. It is therefore to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific construction as illustrated and described as the same is only illustrative of the principles of operation, which are capable of extended application in various forms, and that the invention comprehends all construction within the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is:

In a non-skid chain applying tool, a substan tially U-shaped member to straddle a tire transversely thereof while mounted on a wheel of a motor vehicle for free circumferential movement -of the tire and includes a substantially arcuately curved connecting portion and parallel straight side portions spaced from each other to move freely relative to the side walls of the tire, pairs or hooks tormed on the straight side portions of the substantially U-shaped member, one pair or said hooks located on one side of the substantially U-shaped member to engage links at one end of a non-skid chain resting on the ground with the tire resting thereon a limited distance from the other end of the non-skid chain and the other pair 01 hooks being engaged with links of the non-skid chain located between the ends of the non-skid chain whereby a portion of the non-skid chain becomes draped on the substantially U-shaped member when manually supported, and an elongated straight handle having one end integral with the end of one of the side portions positioning said handle in alignment with the' last-named side portion whereby a person gripping said handle may move the substantially U-shaped member circumferentially of the tire carrying the non-skid chain therewith about the tire with the major portion of the non-skid chain supported from the ground.

ANDREW SPOCK. 

